Sathya Sai Baba | His Life
Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born in Puttaparthi on 23rd November 1926. He was given the name Sathyanarayana Raju. What intrigued his mother Easwaramma most was the boundless compassion her little Sathya had particularly for the poor and downtrodden. Even as a small child, he would insist that the beggar at the door be well taken care of despite his own limited means and would often give his own share to the needy. When he started school, his playmates were inspired by his ability to lead them to become socially responsible, spiritually conscious and endowed with individual and national character. His friends were often fascinated by his extraordinary powers to create things out of nothing, to know the future, his deep knowledge of the wisdom of the scriptures etc.
The inexplicability of his actions greatly disturbed his father Sri Ratnakaram Pedda Venkama Raju, and on May 23, 1940, he angrily accosted Sathya to reveal his true identity. Sathya simply picked up some flowers and threw them, which were arranged to read “I am Sai Baba.” Later that year, on the morning of October 20, in the middle of the school day, Baba suddenly returned home, laid aside His books, and dramatically declared, “I am no longer your Sathya… I am Sai. I have my work, I cannot wait any longer.” Thus, on that day Sathyanarayana Raju became Sathya Sai Baba.
Grandfather and parents
The Raju family of Puttaparthi was noted for its piety right from the days of the renowned sage Venkavadhootha, a saintly ancestor who was regarded as a guru in hundreds of surrounding villages. Not only did the family build and endow the Gopalaswami Temple (dedicated to Lord Krishna), but Sri Ratnakaram Kondama Raju, the grandfather of Baba’s physical frame, dedicated a temple to Sathyabhama, consort of Lord Krishna, a deity to whom such homage is rarely offered anywhere in India. Peasants by vocation, they were known for their musical and dramatic talent and were much involved in propagating the holy scriptures through village plays and musicals. Accordingly, the family was named “Bhat Raju” (Bhat – priest).
Sri Kondama Raju was a pious soul who lived his one hundred and ten years of earthly existence in ceaseless contemplation of the Lord. His wife Srimathi (Smt) Lakshmamma predeceased him twenty years. They had two sons named after Sage Venkavadhootha: Sri Pedda Venkama Raju and Sri Chinna Venkama Raju.
Sri Pedda Venkama Raju, the eldest son, was married to Easwaramma, daughter of Sri Meesaraganda Subba Raju of Kolimigundla of Kurnool district. Sri Pedda Venkama Raju and Smt Easwaramma were blessed with one son and two daughters in that order, Seshama Raju, Venkamma and Parvathamma.
Pasaron algunos años y Easwaramma anhelaba tener otro hijo. Rezó a los dioses de la aldea, realizó Sathyanarayana Puja y observó una serie de votos rigurosos. Un día ocurrió un incidente extraordinario que anunció el descenso de lo divino a su vientre. Easwaramma había ido al pozo del pueblo a sacar agua. Allí notó un extraño resplandor azulado que se transformó en una esfera luminosa. Luego, la bola de luz se deslizó hacia ella y entró en su ser. Poco después, para alegría de su familia, Easwaramma se encontró en el camino familiar.
Después de un tiempo, se produjeron misteriosos indicios de la inminente encarnación en la casa de Sri Pedda Venkama Raju. ¡Por ejemplo, se oía el tañido del tambura! Como los hermanos y el padre estaban interesados en las óperas del pueblo, había una gran tambura (un instrumento de cuerda) y una maddala (tambor). Cuando el nacimiento del hijo por quien la Madre Easwaramma oró se anunció como inminente, la casa se despertó a medianoche, y a veces incluso más tarde, por el sonido automático del tambura y el latido rítmico de la maddala, ¡como si una mano experta estuviera tocando en ella! Un Shastri (erudito védico), a quien Sri Pedda Venkama Raju se acercó para pedirle una explicación, dijo que se trataba de un suceso auspicioso: significaba la presencia de una Shakthi, un poder benéfico que confiere armonía, elevación espiritual y alegría.
Birth
November 23, 1926, the Hindu year of Akshaya, meaning the never-declining, ever-full year. It was the hour of dawn and the villagers were chanting the names of Lord Shiva, remembering that the day was Karthika Somavara, a Monday in the holy month of Karthika, dedicated to the puja (worship) of Shiva. That day was made even more auspicious for Shiva worship because the rising star was Ardra (the star of Shiva). On this day, when these rare and auspicious signs met, people thronged the temples of the Lord to offer special pujas and pray for His blessing.
The Mother had also just finished her Sathyanarayana Puja in accordance with her vows, for even as she was performing the final rituals, the pangs warned her. When Easwaramma announced the pangs, a message was sent to the mother-in-law, Smt Lakshmamma, the pious lady of the house; But it was learned that she had gone to the priest’s house to perform the Sathyanarayana Puja; the messenger found her there and urged her to return; but she was so confident in the Grace of Lord Sathyanarayana, so firm in her devotion, so disciplined in her religious adherence, that she refused to be intimidated.
She sent word that she would bring the sacred offerings with her after the Puja and that under no circumstances would she allow her prayers to be interrupted! She finished the entire ritual with full concentration, came home and handed her daughter-in-law the flowers and the sacred water. Easwaramma partook of the Lord’s blessings. The next moment, Sathya was born and the Sun rose over the horizon!
Childhood
A very significant event occurred soon after the birth of the child, which revealed the divinity of the baby. One day, it was noticed that the little bed on which the baby was lying was moving up and down in a peculiar manner because of something underneath. They looked with great anticipation and when they looked under the bed they found a cobra underneath. The snake was playing the role of Sesha to the Seshasai! (Sesha, according to Hindu belief, is the snake on whose coiled bed Lord Vishnu rests.)
The baby was named Sathyanarayana because there seemed to be a significant connection between the worship of that God and the fulfillment of the mother’s cherished wish. When the Namakaranam (Naming Ceremony) was performed and the name was whispered in the ear, it seems that the baby smiled, for the suggestion to give him that name must have emanated discreetly from within. The embodiment and exponent of Truth could not give himself a more appropriate name.
Little Sathya soon became the pet of the entire village of Puttaparthi and farmers and cowherds vied with each other to pet him, feed him and play with his lovely silken locks. His charming smile attracted everyone. Like a lighted lamp, Sathya moved around the house and laughter tinkled in the street as He lisped His sweet vocabulary of sounds.
The villagers soon began to refer to Him as “Brahmajnani” – the knower and upholder of Brahman or Divinity. Even at a young age, Sathya was known for His extraordinary love and compassion towards creation and His aversion to harming any creature. His heart melted at human suffering. Whenever a beggar appeared at the door and uttered his cry, Sathya would abandon His game and rush in to force His sisters to distribute grain or food. The elders of the house tried to dissuade Him by saying, “Look! You can give Him food; but, mind you, you will have to starve.” That did not deter the boy; He used to run inside and take food to the hungry man at the door; and stay away from dinner or lunch, Himself.
Nothing and no one could persuade Him to come to His plate, which was left untouched!
While other members of the family enjoyed non-vegetarian food, little Sathya advised them to desist from such cruel habits. Whenever such food was cooked in the house, the boy used to run to the house of Karnam (head of the village) and partake of the food offered by Subbamma, the old woman residing there, because they were Brahmins and vegetarians.
So distinctive was His behavior that once a wag nicknamed Him “the Brahmin boy”! Yes, it was an apt description. Little did that wag know that while in the previous body, this boy, who was now being laughed at so much, had declared to Shirdi: “This Brahmin can bring hundreds of thousands of men along the White Path and take them to their destination!”
First days of school
At the age of eight, Sathya was declared fit to go to the Upper Primary School at Bukkapatnam, about two and a half miles from Puttaparthi. He had to start early, after a meal of cold rice and curd or boiled ragi (corn), rice and chutney, carry the evening meal in a bag and with his companions make the arduous daily journey to Bukkapatnam.
Sathyanarayana was a precocious child, learning more things than anyone could teach him and much faster than most; he could sing all the songs and Stotras (prayers) that were recited in the village operas. He even composed, at the tender age of seven or eight, some touching songs for the cast, which were gladly accepted by them for public performance!
Pandhari Bhajan Group
When He was about ten years old, Sathya formed a “Pandhari Bhajan” group in the village of Puttaparthi. The group consisted of sixteen to eighteen children dressed uniformly in ochre-coloured clothes, each with a flag in his hand and jingling anklets. They all danced to folk songs and ballads, which described the pilgrims’ longing for the Darshan of Lord Panduranga. He also added some songs of his own from the Bhagavatha. It was noted that He added to these traditional themes, songs on a pilgrimage to a new shrine which no one had heard of, and the majesty of a new Deity of whom they had not the slightest idea – Shirdi and Sai!
Furthermore, it was observed that when a cholera infection spread like a poisonous miasma over the area and wiped out entire families in the surrounding villages, Puttaparthi did not feel the blast of death. The wise men told each other that the Divine Atmosphere generated by the Bhajan group was responsible for saving their lives.
In Kamalapuram
Sathya had to move to Kamalapuram, a small town about 200 kilometers from Puttaparthi, with his brother Seshama Raju. His parents planned to give Sathya a college education so that he could become an officer! And so, they were prepared to part with their beloved son and send him to Kamalapuram, to the high school there, so that his studies could continue.
Sathya was a quiet, well-behaved boy and the favorite of His teachers. Once, He sang the prayer song before the curtain of a drama rose in the city and those who heard His sweet voice spread the news that an “excellent musician” had arrived in the city. From then on, prayer songs at functions like public meetings became His monopoly.
A merchant named Kote Subbanna who sold medicines, tonics, glassware, umbrellas, etc. He knew of Sathya’s talents and approached Him for a song to market his new product. He gave Him the necessary information and by evening Sathya was ready with an attractive Telugu song, which was sung in chorus by Him and His friends. They used to march through the streets, with banners in hand, singing Sathya’s slogan-filled jingle and evidently enjoying their task.
A few words may be said about Sathya and His involvement in the school’s drama activities. Sri Thammi Raju, the teacher in charge, once asked Sathya, who was then only twelve years old, to produce a play in Telugu. Sathya plunged into the work with much enthusiasm. The drama was a great success, not only because the hero of the play was a small boy, a role played by Sathya Himself, but mainly because it had as its theme the eternal sin of man – hypocrisy. The title of the play was “Cheppinattu Chesthara?” which means “Do we practice what we preach?”
Meanwhile, Seshama Raju was transferred to Uravakonda. He decided to take Sathya with him with the intention of admitting him to the Sri Karibasavaswami District Board High School there. Accordingly, Sathya accompanied His elder brother to continue His studies in Uravakonda. The city of Uravakonda would witness the great and mysterious events that would mark the momentous transformation of the boy into a great spiritual master who would change the very destiny of humanity.
Mysterious turn of events at Uravakonda
Sathya was sought out by people who had lost valuable articles, for He had brought with Him to Uravakonda the reputation for intuitive perception, which revealed to Him the place where everything was. Baba says that in those days He used to give His friends only the first and last letters of the names of the people on whom the lost articles could be found. He left them to their own devices to recover the merchandise.
On March 8, 1940, the entire city was shocked to learn that a large black scorpion had stung Sathya in the twilight hours of the evening. However, Sathya slept that night without any sign of pain! Everyone was relieved, only to become anxious once more when, the next night, Sathya fell unconscious and became stiff; He did not speak and His breathing seemed weak. Seshama Raju brought a doctor, who gave Him an injection and left a mixture. Apparently, Sathya was unconscious throughout the night. The doctor came back in the morning and declared the child out of danger!
An incident occurred in the evening which proved that Sathya was not “unconscious” but was actually subconscious! Someone suggested that the local deity be propitiated, as the child’s condition may be due to some evil spirit possessing him. So the volunteers rushed to the temple and offered worship, placed flowers and incense and broke a coconut on the altar. At that very moment, Sathya, who was practically “unconscious,” said, “The coconut has been broken into three pieces,” and when the volunteers returned home with the offerings, they had three pieces and not t. He is usually two!
Sathya got up after a day or two and began to behave in an extraordinary manner. Baba has said that He Himself initiated the process of manifestation, because He could not wait any longer, playing like a mere child, with “brother,” “sister,” “classmates” and other secular attachments. He wanted to prove that he was beyond ‘Visha’ and ‘Vishaya’, that neither the poison of the scorpion nor worldly attractions could ever affect him.
Meanwhile, Sri Seshama Raju had informed his parents in Puttaparthi about the situation in Uravakonda. He had written that Sathya was not responding to anyone speaking to him, that it was a herculean task to make him accept food, that he spent most of his time in silence but, at times, would burst into songs and poetry or recite long Sanskrit slokas (hymns) and, at times, expounding the highest Vedantic philosophy. It took about a week for the parents to reach the place, due to unforeseen and unexplained difficulties.
Seshama Raju became nervous to know why the parents had not arrived. He decided to send someone to Puttaparthi to find out the reason for the delay. But Sathya intervened and said, “You don’t need to call them now, they will be here in half an hour,” and true to His words, they came in exactly thirty minutes later.
Divine Fortress
The parents were beside themselves with worry at Sathya’s condition; he sang, spoke and behaved in such a strange manner. Everything was so mysterious. At that moment, someone informed the worried parents that there was an expert exorcist before whom no evil spirit would dare to wag its poisonous tail. He will cure Sathya perfectly and make him ready to go to school, they assured.
The exorcist was a gigantic figure, terrible to behold, with blood-red eyes and untamed manners. He tried all his art and did not dare to experiment even on strong adult patients! For example, he shaved the boy’s head and, with a sharp instrument, marked three “X”-shaped marks on the scalp, from the top towards the forehead. Sathya withstood the pain without fainting. With his scalp wounded and bleeding with those marks, the witch-doctor poured the juice of a lime, garlic and other sour fruits over the open wound.
The parents who were watching the proceedings in utter despair were shocked, for there was not a single tear or cry of pain from the child! But the exorcist was relentless and subjected the child to even more terrifying tests until the parents could not bear to see him any longer. They wanted to save the child from the jaws of that Yama (God of Death) in human form; they had seen and suffered enough. They paid him the full fee and also gave him some unsolicited gifts, and thanked him for all the “learning” he had used.
When later asked why he decided to go through this diabolical adventure, Baba commented, “Even after seeing all that fortitude and the miracle of a small child who passed through all that terror unscathed, even now, you are not convinced that I am Baba; how would you have reacted then if I had made the announcement one fine day? I wanted to make it known that I am Divine, immune to human suffering, pain or joy.”
Meanwhile, Sri Krishnamachari, a lawyer friend of Penukonda, came to know about these happenings at Raju’s house and came to the village to survey the situation and offer whatever help he could. Taking a good look at him, he said to Venkama Raju, “It is really more serious than I thought; take him immediately to the Narasimha Temple (Lord Narasimha – the Man-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu) at Ghatikachalam; that is the last chance.” Hearing these words, Sathya said, “It is funny, isn’t it? I am already there at Ghatikachalam and you want to take Me Myself!” The lawyer had no desire to question him any further.
I am Sai Baba
On May 23, 1940, Sathya got out of bed as usual, but after a while, he called the household members around him and gave them sugar candy and flowers taken from nowhere. Then the neighbours also came running in. He gave each of them a ball of rice cooked in milk, flowers and sugar candy, all accomplished with a simple gesture of the hand. Meanwhile, Sri Venkama Raju arrived and was outraged by what he thought was a trick – hiding things somewhere and producing them by sleight of hand. He wanted to close the chapter before it dragged on and turned into a tragedy.
Then, arming himself with a stick, he accosted Sathya and asked, “Are you a God, a ghost or a madman?” Tell me!” Soon came the reply, the Announcement, which had been withheld for so long: “I am Sai Baba.”
At this, Venkama Raju was stunned into silence; the stick slipped from his hands. He stared at Sathya trying to understand the implications of that announcement: “I am Sai Baba.” But Sathya continued: “I belong to the Apasthamba Sutra; I am from the Bharadwaja Gothra; I am Sai Baba; I have come to take away all your troubles; keep your houses clean and pure.”
The elder brother, Seshama Raju, came to Him and asked: “What do you mean by ‘Sai Baba’?” He did not reply but only said this: “Your Venkavadhootha prayed that I should be born in your family. So I came.” The father felt that Sai Baba was a Muslim spirit speaking through the boy and so he asked: “What are we to do with you?” Soon came the reply; “Praise Me!” “When?” “Every Thursday! Keep your minds and houses pure.”
One Thursday, someone challenged Sathyanarayana and asked, “If you are Sai Baba, show us some proof now!” Baba replied, “Yes, I will,” and asked for some jasmine flowers. With a quick gesture, he threw them on the ground and said, “Look.” They saw that the flowers had formed the Telugu letters, ‘Sai Baba’ as they fell!
Divine Omnipresence
At the invitation of some Hospet locals, Seshama Raju decided to take Sathya on a picnic to see if it could improve the boy’s mental health. Hospet is located a few kilometres from the ruins of Hampi, the capital city of the emperors of the ancient Vijayanagara Kingdom in what is now the state of Karnataka.
There they visited the temple of Lord Virupaksha, the patron deity of the Vijayanagara royal family. While the other members of the group entered the temple to offer worship in the sanctum sanctorum, Sathya stood outside admiring the height and majesty of the Gopuram (the high roof of a pyramid-shaped temple). When the priest waved the camphor flame before the Lingam (ellipsoid structure worshipped as Lord Shiva), they saw in utter amazement Sathya inside the sanctum. He was standing at a spot on the Lingam, smiling and accepting their greetings.
Thinking that Sathya might have sneaked into the sanctum evading everyone’s attention, Seshama Raju came out to check if He was still there. Yes, indeed Sathya was there, leaning against a wall and looking at the horizon! He ran inside the sanctum sanctorum and once again found Sathya standing there and blessing everyone.
This incident confirmed his faith in Sathya as a Divine Manifestation. They offered Him special Puja (worship) that day. Hospet was alert with expectation and enthusiasm. The story of Him being seen as Virupaksha had spread to that town long before they arrived. The next day He cured a patient of chronic tuberculosis with His touch and made him stand up and walk a mile; He materialized various items for the devotees and the enthusiasm of the people knew no bounds. Bhajan and Namasankirtan (chanting the name of God) continued well into the night.
The mission begins
On the 20th of October 1940, the day after everyone returned from Hampi, Sathyanarayana started going to school as usual. However, within a few minutes, he returned home. Standing on the threshold outside, he threw aside the books he was carrying and cried, “I am no longer your Sathya. I am Sai.” The sister-in-law came out of the kitchen, only to be blinded by the splendor of the halo around Baba’s head! He addressed her, “I am leaving; I do not belong to you; Maya (illusion) is gone; My Bhaktas (devotees) are calling Me; I have My Work; I cannot stay here any longer.”
When the brother hurried back home on hearing all this, Baba only told him, “Give up all your efforts to ‘cure’ me. I am Sai; I do not consider myself your relative.”
Despite repeated entreaties, Sathya would not enter that building again. He moved to the garden of the excise inspector Sri Anjaneyulu’s bungalow and sat on a rock amidst the trees. People came into the garden from all directions bringing flowers, fruits, incense and camphor to worship Him.
The garden resounded with the voices of hundreds of people singing bhajans (devotional songs) and following the lines of the first prayer that Sri Sathya Sai taught them.
“Manasa Bhajare Gurucharanam Dusthara Bhava Sagara Tharanam”(O Mind! Meditate on the Feet of the Guru, who will take you through the tedious sea of Samsara or worldly existence.)
A photographer came with a camera to capture a beautiful picture of young Swami. He wanted to remove a rough stone that was right in front of Him, but Baba did not heed the prayer. However, he clicked and lo and behold! When the photo was developed, the stone had turned into a picture of Shirdi Sai Baba!
A few days later, Baba left Uravakonda for Puttaparthi. There, He moved to the house of Karnam (the village headman), whose elderly and devoted wife Subbamma waited on Him with love and affection and welcomed all the devotees into her spacious house; she spared no effort to make their stay happy and comfortable. Baba often speaks of His dedicated service, working incessantly from dawn to dusk, cooking and making other arrangements for the hordes of devotees who began to disembark at Puttaparthi every day.
As the number of devotees increased, a mandir (temple) was built in February 1947, where He began to reside and give darshan.
On 23rd November 1950, Pr. Asanthi Nilayam (The Abode of Supreme Peace) was inaugurated, which remains to this day the central place for Baba’s darshan and festive celebrations taking place in His Divine Presence.
Avatar of Sri Sathya Sai
This was the story of the Advent of the Avatar and the early years of His life and mission, a mission that would bring millions to His Lotus Feet to taste the bliss of Divine Love and thus transform their lives. In a letter written to his brother Sri Seshama Raju way back in 1947, Sri Sathya Sai Baba emphatically stated the great purpose for which He had come.
He said:
I have a task:
To foster all of humanity and ensure that everyone lives full of Ananda (bliss).
I have a vow:
To guide all those who stray from the straight path,
back into goodness and save them.
I am attached to a Work that I love:
Removing the sufferings of the poor and granting them what they lack.
I have a reason to be proud,
because I rescue all those who worship and adore me.
The decades that have elapsed since that momentous letter was written have witnessed the grand manner in which His vision has taken shape. The world-class super-specialized hospitals offering tertiary-level medical care free of cost, the schools and colleges imparting value-based education, the gigantic clean water supply projects and the numerous other service projects undertaken by Him are a testimony to His selfless love and His compassion for humanity. However, even more significant than these activities have been His tireless efforts to spread the message of spirituality and inculcate love and brotherhood throughout the world. Through the Sri Sathya Sai Centres and Education in Human Values (EHV) programmes, thousands of people across the world have sanctified their lives by putting His precepts into practice and participating in service programmes such as Narayana Seva (feeding the poor) and free medical camps.